Ancient China - Timeline Notes
Topic A: Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE)
- The Chinese Shang dynasty moves its capital to Yin (modern Anyang) (1300 BC)
- Battle of Mue, Shang Emperor Zhou defeated by King Wu of Zhou. End of the
Shang Dynasty
- The I-Ching, the Book of Changes, is written (1250-1150 BC)
Topic B: The Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BCE)
- 841 BCE - 828 BCE
Gonghe Regency in the Western Zhou Dynasty. During this period, King Li of Zhou was
exiled and the country was ruled by two dukes.
- Following nomadic attacks in the west, the Chinese Zhou dynasty moves its
capital east to Luoyang. Beginning of Eastern Zhou Period (771 BCE)
Topic BC: The Eastern Zhou Dynasty (771- 256 BCE)
- Duke Xin, ruler of Qin, is awarded the title of Hegemon by the Zhou state (364
BCE)
- Xiao, ruler of Qin, is awarded the title of Hegemon by the Zhou state (343 BCE)
- Huiwen, ruler of Qin, is awarded royal status by the Zhou state (326 BCE)
- The army of the state of Qin captures the city of Chengzhou and the last Zhou
ruler, King Nan, is killed. End of the Zhou Dynasty (256 BCE)
- Qin takes over
Topic BCD: Warring States Period (481-221 BCE)
- 470 - 391 BCE: Life of Chinese Hedonist Philosopher Yang Zhu
- 372 - 289 BCE: Life of Confucian Philosopher Mencius (Mang-Tze)
- 364 BCE: Duke Xin, ruler of Qin, awarded title of Hegemon by Zhou state
- 343 BCE: Xiao, ruler of Qin, awarded title of Hegemon by Zhou state
- 326 BCE: Huiwen, ruler of Qin, awarded royal status by Zhou state
- 280 BCE - c. 233 BCE: Life of Han Feizi who developed Legalism in China
- 278 BCE: Qin state captures Ying, capital of Chu state
- 262 - 260 BCE: Battle of Changping, one of most important between Zhao and
Qin
- 259 - 210 BCE: Life of Ying Zheng of Qin, Shi Huangdi, First Emperor China
- 256 BCE: Army of Qin state captures city of Chengzhou & last Zhou ruler
- 256 BCE: Qin absorbs remains of Zhou state
- C. 246 - 247 BCE: Prince Ying Zheng became king of Qin, age 12 or 13
- 230 BCE: Qin defeats Han
, - 228 BCE: Qin defeats Zhao
- Qin absorbs Chu
- 221 - 210 BCE: First Emperor of a united China, Shi Huangti
- 221 BCE: Qin defeats Yan and Qi
Topic C: Qin Dynasty (221 - 207 BC)
- 259 - 210 BCE: Life of Ying Zheng of Qin, Shi Huangdi, first emperor
- 230 - 221 BCE: King Ying Zheng of Qin defeats other warring states, claims
Mandate of Heaven to rule China
- 221 BCE: Construction of Northern Frontier wall by Shi Huangdi, precursor the
Great Wall
- 218 BCE: Great Wall of China construction initiated
- 210 BCE: Shi Huangdi dies, buried with army of 8 000 terracotta warriors in
palace tomb
- 202 BCE: Battle of Gaixia, Chu forces defeated by Han
Topic D: Han Dynasty (207 BC - 220 AD)
- 206 BCE - 9 CE: Western Han Dynasty rules China from their capital in
Chang’an
- 202 BCE: Liu-Bang of Han establishes Han Dynasty
- 202 BCE - 220 CE: Han reigns
- 202 BCE: Liu Bang proclaimed emperor after defeating rival general Xiang Yu
- Mar 202 BCE: Liu Bang first Han ruler
- 195 BCE: Liu Bang dies. Empress Lu Zhi rules through puppet kings for own
benefit for next 15yrs
- 141 - 87 BCE: Reign of Wu (Wu the Great) most efficient & influential of Han
monarchs
- 141 - 87 BCE: Wu abandons Legalism for Confucianism
- 138 - 126 BCE: Zhang Qian, envoy of Wu, opens ‘silk rode’ trading route
between China & Central Asia
- 117 - 100 BCE: Han emperors extend western part of Great Wall of China
- 109 BCE: Han Empire conquers kingdom of Tien
- 2CE: Chang’an, imperial capital China, population of nearly nearly 250 thousand
ppl
- 9CE: Wang Mang takes control of empire by usurping throne & proclaiming
innovative dynasty Xin “new”
- 23 CE: Liu Xiu led loyal officials to city of Luoyang, where imperial capital
relocated
- 25 CE - 220 CE: Eastern Han dynasty rules China
- 91 CE: Han dynasty invades Mongolia
- 105 CE: Invention of fine paper-making process by Cai Lun
Topic A: Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE)
- The Chinese Shang dynasty moves its capital to Yin (modern Anyang) (1300 BC)
- Battle of Mue, Shang Emperor Zhou defeated by King Wu of Zhou. End of the
Shang Dynasty
- The I-Ching, the Book of Changes, is written (1250-1150 BC)
Topic B: The Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BCE)
- 841 BCE - 828 BCE
Gonghe Regency in the Western Zhou Dynasty. During this period, King Li of Zhou was
exiled and the country was ruled by two dukes.
- Following nomadic attacks in the west, the Chinese Zhou dynasty moves its
capital east to Luoyang. Beginning of Eastern Zhou Period (771 BCE)
Topic BC: The Eastern Zhou Dynasty (771- 256 BCE)
- Duke Xin, ruler of Qin, is awarded the title of Hegemon by the Zhou state (364
BCE)
- Xiao, ruler of Qin, is awarded the title of Hegemon by the Zhou state (343 BCE)
- Huiwen, ruler of Qin, is awarded royal status by the Zhou state (326 BCE)
- The army of the state of Qin captures the city of Chengzhou and the last Zhou
ruler, King Nan, is killed. End of the Zhou Dynasty (256 BCE)
- Qin takes over
Topic BCD: Warring States Period (481-221 BCE)
- 470 - 391 BCE: Life of Chinese Hedonist Philosopher Yang Zhu
- 372 - 289 BCE: Life of Confucian Philosopher Mencius (Mang-Tze)
- 364 BCE: Duke Xin, ruler of Qin, awarded title of Hegemon by Zhou state
- 343 BCE: Xiao, ruler of Qin, awarded title of Hegemon by Zhou state
- 326 BCE: Huiwen, ruler of Qin, awarded royal status by Zhou state
- 280 BCE - c. 233 BCE: Life of Han Feizi who developed Legalism in China
- 278 BCE: Qin state captures Ying, capital of Chu state
- 262 - 260 BCE: Battle of Changping, one of most important between Zhao and
Qin
- 259 - 210 BCE: Life of Ying Zheng of Qin, Shi Huangdi, First Emperor China
- 256 BCE: Army of Qin state captures city of Chengzhou & last Zhou ruler
- 256 BCE: Qin absorbs remains of Zhou state
- C. 246 - 247 BCE: Prince Ying Zheng became king of Qin, age 12 or 13
- 230 BCE: Qin defeats Han
, - 228 BCE: Qin defeats Zhao
- Qin absorbs Chu
- 221 - 210 BCE: First Emperor of a united China, Shi Huangti
- 221 BCE: Qin defeats Yan and Qi
Topic C: Qin Dynasty (221 - 207 BC)
- 259 - 210 BCE: Life of Ying Zheng of Qin, Shi Huangdi, first emperor
- 230 - 221 BCE: King Ying Zheng of Qin defeats other warring states, claims
Mandate of Heaven to rule China
- 221 BCE: Construction of Northern Frontier wall by Shi Huangdi, precursor the
Great Wall
- 218 BCE: Great Wall of China construction initiated
- 210 BCE: Shi Huangdi dies, buried with army of 8 000 terracotta warriors in
palace tomb
- 202 BCE: Battle of Gaixia, Chu forces defeated by Han
Topic D: Han Dynasty (207 BC - 220 AD)
- 206 BCE - 9 CE: Western Han Dynasty rules China from their capital in
Chang’an
- 202 BCE: Liu-Bang of Han establishes Han Dynasty
- 202 BCE - 220 CE: Han reigns
- 202 BCE: Liu Bang proclaimed emperor after defeating rival general Xiang Yu
- Mar 202 BCE: Liu Bang first Han ruler
- 195 BCE: Liu Bang dies. Empress Lu Zhi rules through puppet kings for own
benefit for next 15yrs
- 141 - 87 BCE: Reign of Wu (Wu the Great) most efficient & influential of Han
monarchs
- 141 - 87 BCE: Wu abandons Legalism for Confucianism
- 138 - 126 BCE: Zhang Qian, envoy of Wu, opens ‘silk rode’ trading route
between China & Central Asia
- 117 - 100 BCE: Han emperors extend western part of Great Wall of China
- 109 BCE: Han Empire conquers kingdom of Tien
- 2CE: Chang’an, imperial capital China, population of nearly nearly 250 thousand
ppl
- 9CE: Wang Mang takes control of empire by usurping throne & proclaiming
innovative dynasty Xin “new”
- 23 CE: Liu Xiu led loyal officials to city of Luoyang, where imperial capital
relocated
- 25 CE - 220 CE: Eastern Han dynasty rules China
- 91 CE: Han dynasty invades Mongolia
- 105 CE: Invention of fine paper-making process by Cai Lun
